Electrically-propelled vehicle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD N. ALLEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRlCALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,978, dated June 25,1889.

Application filed March 11, 1889. Serial N0.302,794. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD N. ALLEN, of the city of Cleveland, in thecounty of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electrically- Propelled Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention is an improvement in electrically propelled vehiclessuchas tramcars-the object of which is to provide a more simple andeffective system of motion transmitting and reducing connections betweenthe motor-shaft and the driving-wheels of the car.

The invention consists in the combination, with friction wheels or diskson the axle or axles of the car and the shaft of the driving motor ormotors, of intern] ediate friction-disks carried by a pivoted lever orframe adapted to be held in engagement with both the otherfriction-wheels by an adjustable spring-pressure.

More specifically stated, the invention is carried out in the followingmanner.

The motor or motors for driving the car are mounted on a truck supportedby the axles of the ordinary car-wheels. The motor-shaft carries one ormore friction-pulleys and the car-axle carries corresponding frictionpulleys or drums of considerably-greater diameter than those on themotor-shaft. The motorpulleys and their corresponding drivingdrums areseparated by a short space, and motion is transmitted from one to theother by intermediate friction-wheels carried by a lever or framepivoted to the truck. This frame is held by an adjustable spring in aposition which forces the Wheels which it carries firmly into contactwith the pulleys or drums of the motor and axle. The spring is madeadjustable, so that the pressure between the said pulleys and wheel maybe regulated according to necessity.

This device is illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which-Figure l is a central section, through the line o n of Fig. 2, of acar-truck with the invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a plan viewand part section of the same.

A A designate the wheels of a vehiclesuch as a street-carand B B theaxles thereof journaled in suitable bearings in or supporting a truck orframe 0. In the present case two motors D and E are shown as mounted onthe truck, their shafts parallel to the axles B B. In addition to thecommutator and in lieu of the ordinary driving-pulley, each motor-shaftis provided with one or preferably two friction disks or pulleys F,which are secured to the shaft outside its bearings. In other respectsthe motors are of the ordinary construction and need no furtherdescription.

The axles B B carry friction pulleys or drums G G, corresponding to thepulleys F, but not engaging directly with the same.

H is a frame pivoted to the truck at I. Its construction may be variedin many ways, it being only required that it carry the frictionwheels JJ in position to be brought by the swinging movement of the frame intoengagement with the pulleys and drums F and G. The frame H is held inposition to press the wheels J J upon the pulleys or drums F and G bymeans of a stout spring L secured to the truck, the tension of saidspring being made adjustable by the nut M, or any equivalent device.

I prefer to use the grooved pulleys or drums shown; but I may use otherforms if so desired.

When the springs L are adjusted to the required tension, the motion ofthe motor-shaft will be transmitted evenly and smoothly to the axles. Incase of too great a strain or overloadin g of the motor, or of a suddenstoppage or starting of the same, the frictional connection between thepulleys permits the same to slip or the frame H to yield, so that shocksand undue wear are prevented.

I am aware that intern] ediate friction-wheels between the motor-shaftand car-axle are not broadly new and I do notbroadly claim them.

Having thus described a specific way of carrying out the invention, Iwould state that I regard the special way of mounting the mo= tor, orthe location of the pivoted point of the frame H, and other minorfeatures, as matters of mere detail that may be varied at will.

\Vhat I claim is The coinbinatiomwith the motor-shaft and ear-axle, bothprovided with friction pulleys 0r drums, of a pivoted lever or frame,frictionwheels carried thereby and adapted to be brought by the frameinto contact with both pulleys or drums, and an adjustablespringeonneetion between the frame and a fixed support, the tension ofwhich acts to force the friction-Wheels against the pulleys and drums,as set forth.

RICHARD N. ALLEN. Witnesses:

ROBT. H. DUNCAN,

R0121. F. GAYLORD.

